settling in

 I know this is messy, but it is my collection and my palette. I love afternoons when I can sew uninterrupted. Just what I am going to do now. 

The back of the wedding guest book quilt. When we were married, I had our guests sign a piece of unbleached muslin with their names and wishes. Those are on the other side, and the back is a mix of hand-printed and other scrap fabric put together. I love the way this quilt looks. It is lap size, perfect for covering up on the couch on a chilly night.

December 2014 hike at Greensfelder Park

JRR Tolkien quote

I want to make these chevrons

Recipes to try: minestrone soup; greek spaghetti squash; this gf granola; elderberry drink

And store the leftovers in these containers

heavenly slice of Lemon Loaf from Cucina Nicolina's book, Flourless

I might make this recipe again this weekend, for the 3rd time. It is wonderful. Light, fluffy and dense almost at the same time, lemony and almond-y. Sweet, of course. But perfect for someone avoiding grains (but not sugar). 

I am on a quest to limit and reduce grains, most specifically wheat and gluten, but also some others. I already feel better physically when avoiding them, including no bloating, abdominal pressure, gas, tiredness, etc. I have been working out several times a week as well and now have lost a few pounds, which is the goal. Feeling better in many areas is a good thing. 

Cheers.

best of 2014: monthly pictures

 

2015 wishes

Happy New Year!!

Here are my wishes for 2015:

travel to Minneapolis MN, the UP, KC, a beach vacation, and Hamilton, MO

take a train somewhere

ride bikes this year

be active 3-4x week (gym/walks)

save up for bathroom, Europe vacation

buy ourselves a bathroom renovation

 paint front door
paint back door
make a garden plan

clean kitchen shelves

read 50 books

cook 5 new recipes

try 5 new-to-me restaurants

crochet and sew more work including:
hats, scarves and cowls,
table runners, quilts sachets
enter vendor shows

finish needlepoint

take photos weekly

post blog weekly

print photographs and update photo albums
continue first Friday Masses

 clean and reorganize front bedroom/sewing room
go hiking in at least 5 parks locally
paint/collage postcards and send a birthday greetings

attend a Cardinals' game

host a party for friends

try to buy as much Made in USA

research, plan, create, and give homemade Christmas gifts
perhaps try one of these daily or weekly challenges

do you have a 2015 to do list or wish plan?

links I've been saving

links for today:

Ways to Love your Neighbor

Yellow hickory leaves

Maple and Rosemary Cashews

Shrimp Gumbo

and ... Bacon wrapped Pears w/ Goat Cheese -- it was a hit as a Thanksgiving appetizer!

St. Elizabeth of Hungary quote

Preparing for Advent - a good resource for next year
Pope John Paul II Letter to Artists - I am reading this now.
Made in USA Clothespins and drying racks
Love, love, love SouleMama's studio space 

the above baby quilt went to family friends expecting their first child.

Promises of the Sacred Heart- why I go to First Friday Mass now
Pange Lingua - words and music
looking at deployments and guard weekends in a positive light
beautiful migration picture
feta dip - I want to try
could listen to this in the car

St. Augustine quote
my favorite novel ever: Anna Karenina: has new translations
2015 Daily and Weekly Challenge Ideas
the power of Introverts: ted talk

review of 2014 wishes

I made a list at the beginning of this year detailing some of my hopes for this year. I think I accomplished quite a bit.

Accomplished in bold; in progress in italics

Here were my wishes for 2014:

travel to San Antonio TX, the UP, and another place: Hamilton, MO

take a train somewhere

ride bikes this year

be active 3-4x week (walk/gym)

attend 1 celebration for St. Louis 250th Anniversary celebrations

save up for car fund, bathroom, Europe vacation

buy ourselves a bathroom renovation

 paint front door

clean kitchen shelves

read 50 books (read 90)

cook 5 new recipes

try 5 new-to-me restaurants

buy and hang curtains

order business cards

crochet and enter vendor shows

work on and finish quilt with fabric from textiles classes

learn to knit

start and complete needlepoint

take photos weekly

post blog weekly

print photographs and update photo albums

attend a Cardinals' game

host a summer or fall party for friends

try to buy as much Made in USA

research, plan, create, and give homemade Christmas gifts

stay tuned in a few days for my 2015 wishes.

Happy New Year!!

Merry Christmas!!!

May you be full of light, life, 

happiness, gentleness, and peace. 

Merry Christmas!

PEACE

Please pray for peace.

For you.

For your loved ones.

For the people of Ferguson and St. Louis, MO.

For all.

rock n roll craft show 11

I am getting ready for this show the weekend after Thanksgiving. 

Here's a sneak preview!

 

 My work is sold under the name Studio 1017 and this year I am selling quilted potholders/trivets, lavender pincushions and sachets, lap quilts and blankets, adult and baby hats, scarves and cowls. The show is set up department store-style, meaning I won't be there at a booth, but my work is mixed in with other work of a similar nature (i.e. baby hats near other baby things, potholders near other housewares, etc).  

 Here are the details!

  Rock and Roll Craft Show 11

  The Luminary Center for the Arts

  2701 Cherokee Street, St. Louis, MO 63118  

 

 While there is no parking lot, there is plenty of street parking, with many meters on Cherokee and side streets and no meters further down on side streets.  You can make a day of it and grab something delicious from one of the many Mexican bakeries and restaurants, or peruse antique stores. You can get a coffee from Mud House or Foam, or get a baked good (including gluten free) from Whisk Bakeshop. 

Thanks for your support :)

tidying and cleaning

Since the weather has been turning, the heat has come on, I have noticed that I am gathering more things inside. I have taken on loads of library books, brought up the box of yarn, gone through fabric, looked through paper and pens, researched types of journals, and pored my cookbooks for recipes for the slow cooker: soups, stews, and other savory dishes. I want to be warm, cozy, as light-filled as possible. I get the feeling I did not have enough warm weather as I needed this summer. I still want fall. I halfway look forward to Christmas, and my birthday in spring, because I don't want to be cold. I want to still sit on the porch in my lawnchair. I want to take long walks in the sun, dappled through the yellow and orange leaves. So, I will still take walks in the blue sky, in the grey sky, in the silver-tinted sky. I will keep moving in the day, sit under a blanket at night, make tasty, warm meals. I will make art to help anchor my feelings and my days. I will rake the leaves and feed the chickens, savoring the daily hours of light.

Also, today is All Souls' Day, yesterday was All Saints' Day. I remember all of my grandparents and some great aunts today, and some others whom have passed away.